Methods, systems, kits and apparatuses for protecting food from airborne particles and germs while eating

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure for a protection screen relates to methods and systems for protecting food, hot or cold, and drinks while eating in public spaces such as cafeterias, bars, restaurants, food courts, food bars, airplane seating, etc.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to many methods and systems for protecting food, hot or cold, and drinks while eating in public spaces such as cafeterias, bars, restaurants, food courts, food bars, airplane seating, etc.

BACKGROUND

Eating food while seated in public spaces where food is normally served often requires seating, table or bar room space or access to table or counter tops. In many public eating locations space can be tight and congested for example eating at a bar. When seated in congested spaces the behavior and manner of eating of other customers can release airborne particles such as food, nicotine, juice, spit, sneezes, sputum, sweat etc. These airborne particles can impact, effect or deposit themselves on the plated food and drinks of other patrons in the same location seated close by or within reach of the airborne particles.

Currently, there are no protections against the release of the airborne particles between seated locations, except for being seated in a sealed booth, a single booth, or by increasing the space between tables, or counter or bar tops. Such an increase in space or using single or sealed booth locations would negatively impact the economic return per square area for the serving establishment or lead to an increase in the cost of food served.

A new cost-effective method and solution is required to protect against airborne particles, no matter what the source, and one that does not increase customer spacing requirement or introduce expensive single seating locations or booths. The solution should be inexpensive and protect a customer's meal no matter how spacing is located or provided.

Furthermore, the solution must allow for cleaning, protection against cold germs and flu germs, and act as an air cleansing agent.

The solution must not take up any more space than the space currently allocated to a patron or customer, and should be easy to “pack-away” or put away.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure requires a Protection Screen for protecting the food, hot or cold, and drinks while eating in public spaces such as cafeterias, bars, restaurants, food courts, food bars, airplane seats, etc. The Protection Screen covers an eating volume. The Protection Screen forms a three sided trapezoid where the food and drink is placed by the food server or by the patrons themselves within the trapezoidal volume covered by the screen. The Protection Screen is three sided leaving one side open that faces the patron or customer to enable the free movement of hands, utensils, and napkins. The Protection Screen isolates the food within the screened space from particulates outside the screened space.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a basic protection screen. This is a 3 sided, open ended, screen large enough to accommodate a dinner place setting and accompanying utensils.

FIG. 2 shows more extensive protection screen with a lipped edge to provide further enclosure protection.

FIG. 3 shows a protection screen with predesigned buttons to allow for the sides of the screen to be adjusted according to the table top, counter or seated area size by clicking the buttons to the desired position. The protection screen is prefabricated to allow for the screen to shrink or expand like an accordion with pre-scored folds or creases in the screen.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In embodiments, the methods, systems, kits and apparatuses for the Protection Screen can include any height, or any length that form the equal sides of the trapezoid and any width for the small end of the trapezoid necessary to wrap the plates or dishes or serving trays on which the food is served. In FIG. 1, the flaps can be any length to fit the requirements of the space of the intended establishment. The end that is in-between the flaps can be any width but is typically the width of a dinner plate. FIG. 1 shows how the flaps can fold along the crease marks to form the trapezoidal enclosure.

In embodiments, the method, Systems, kits and apparatuses used to provide the Protection Screen can include edges, lipped edges or designs for specific purposes such as airplane trays or for additional protection purposes. FIG. 2 shows the flaps with lips on top of the flaps. FIG. 2 shows how the lips also fold down to provide more cover of the enclosed trapezoidal space.

In embodiments, the methods, systems, kits and apparatuses used to provide the Protection Screen can be made to measure commensurate with the seated location's spacing, seat or stool size, or environment requirements such as an airplane tray etc. This can be achieved by providing materials that can be cut to length, shaped or adjusted to length based on the material construction or based on adjustments provided within the construction of the Protection Screen for example buttons or clips that allow for adjustment. FIG. 3 shows a single flap is shown where the length can be controlled through crease marks in the flap to allow for buttons to snap into place where button holes are alongside the crease marks in the flap opposite the buttons. In FIG. 3 there are two sets of button holes shown allowing for 2 flap lengths.

In embodiments, the methods, systems, kits and apparatuses used to provide the Protection Screen can be made from materials that are coated with anti-germ cleansers or active germ fighting ingredients.

In embodiments, the methods, systems, kits and apparatuses used to provide the Protection Screen can be made from materials that can be cleaned post-use. Such materials include plastics, glass, wood, metal, composites, vinyl, etc.

In embodiments, the methods, systems, kits and apparatuses used to provide the Protection Screen can be made from materials that can be sprayed with germ fighting agents and that will hold the agent material. The spraying can be applied by the server or the patron. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for providing a Protection Screen for protecting food prepared for eating by patrons at an eating establishment comprising: a screen that forms a three (3) sided trapezoid where the eating end is open for hand, utensil and napkin movement; whereby the screen's height can be any height or adjustable depending on the construction of the screen; whereby the screen's sides can be any length or adjustable depending on the construction of the screen; whereby the screen's closed end can be any width or adjustable depending on the construction of the screen; whereby the screen's material can be any material such as plastic, wood, glass, metal, composite, vinyl, etc. whereby the screen's material is cleansable; whereby the screen's material can be infused with germ fighting compounds; whereby the screen's material can be sprayed prior to use with germ fighting compounds prior to use or at the time of use; whereby the screen's adjustments can be provided by buttons, clips or other apparatus or means for adjustment appropriate to the screen's material and construction form and, the screen can be put away or stored post use without requiring any dismantling or deconstruction.
 2. The Protection Screen of claim 1 can use tapered sides, which can taper in an upward or downward direction from the closed end to the open end.
 3. The Protection Screen of claim 1 can use a lipped edge or flaps on the upper part of the screen to provide further protection for the enclosed food.
 4. The Protection Screen of claim 1 can be specifically fitted for specific use cases such as airplane trays. 